"(Pronounced yah-KWIH-nah) Located three miles north of Newport, Oregon, it sits 162 feet above sea level and is 93 feet tall. It replaced the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse in 1873. It is said the lighthouse is haunted and that if a ship passes close by, the compasses go haywire. (The stories behind the hauntings have been disproven; the land where the lighthouse sits houses magnetized iron, known to throw off readings.)" source
On our way down Hwy 101 we stopped to see the tallest lighthouse on the Oregon coast. It was a super windy day and we thought we'd just dash out after parking in the great spot they had for long RV's/buses.
As we walked toward the lighthouse we noticed harbor seals, cormorants and common murres on the rocks below!! We realized we could go out on the rocky beach and get closer so we grabbed our long lens and braved the wind to capture some fun images.
Pacific harbor seals have spotted coats in a variety of shades ranging from white or silver-gray to black or dark brown. Males are slightly larger than females, but on average harbor seals reach 5 to 6 feet in length and weigh up to 300 pounds.
As a true, or “crawling,” seal, harbor seals have ear holes and small flippers that help them move on land by flopping along on their bellies, also known as “galumphing.”
While there are many differences among the species, all seals have feet shaped like fins. In fact, the word pinniped means "fin-footed" in Latin. I had so much fun watching this one as it kept moving it's feet and spreading them out.
We loved seeing all these animals in their natural habitat as well as the beautiful views surrounding the lighthouse....even in the crazy wind.
Wow- what a glorious spot! Sounds like you had some wind, but I expect that is common on the coast. How cool to see the seals and birds so close. That last video of the tiny inlet beach was so beautiful. The black sand is from the dense iron rock that messes with the ships compasses? Is it basalt in nature?😀